Mount Stromlo Observatory

If you are searching for an Australian observatory with a refracting telescope as one of its astronomical instruments, you might want to go to Mt. Stromlo in Canberra.

Founded n 1924 is the Mount Stromlo Observatory which can be found just beyond the boundary of Canberra in Australia. Also known as the Commonwealth Solar Observatory, it is part of the Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The site of the observatory is on Mt. Stromlo itself. Actually before its establishment in 1924, a telescope was already put up there 14 years earlier used as instruments for atmospheric researches.

The early decades of the twentieth century saw the Mount Stromlo Observatory specializing in atmospheric and solar research and observation. In was only after the second world war that the observatory engaged in the science of astronomy, specifically the study of the galaxies and stars – and at about this time, the observatory was renamed as the Commonwealth Observatory.

Aside from its 66 centimeter (26 inch) refracting telescope, other astronomical instruments are a 188 centimeter (74 inch) reflecting telescope and other smaller sized reflector telescope instruments (50 inch and 30 inch).